The beginning after the end

His own ears were swiveled slightly toward the direction of the burrow, flicking occasionally as he tried to keep in mind why they were hunkered down in this bush to begin with. He couldn't hear anything yet but he figured Áskell was listening too, so hopefully between the two of them, one of them would notice if something was trying to make an escape for it. "A bear? Wow," Veigar's eyes widened and he breathed out hard, impressed. "Yeah, I'd love that. I want to learn to be big and strong and protect everyone." He found himself constantly grasping for approval, and for acceptance... and even in his naive brain he knew that he didn't want to let those things go once he found them. Wolves like Deathbelle and Recluse, and even his new friend Áskell, had earned his unwavering loyalty - not that he knew this other boy well, but he was his first real friend - and he wanted desperately to be strong to protect them. His ear flicked again as he thought he heard something, the sound of something digging at dirt suddenly audible to him, but just barely. He tilted his head and looked to Áskell for direction.